Wringer guard



New. 24, 1942. v TDERKS 2,303,211

WRINGER GUARD Filed March s1;-1'941 il v iem d. HeeTdgrks Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED STATE S FATE NT OF FICE WRINGER GUARD Henry J. Heetderks, Holland, Mich.

Application March 31, 1941, Serial'No". 386,038

2 Claims.

This invention relates to guard means for the rollers in clothes wringer machines. cific form of the invention adapts it to be utilized in connection with the upper or' lower roller in the conventional two roller clothes wringer. While I have preferred to show in the drawing the manner in which the guard is adapted to be secured in close proximity to the upper roller, it is to be understood that it may be used in like manner with the lower roller or with both of them.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a wringer guard which has one or more flex ible means extending downwardly and terminating closely adjacent the upper roller in order that clothes passing between the rollers, which have a tendency to curl up or down on the opposite side of the roller, will be stopped and prevented from further clinging to the roller. In this way all chance of clothes being wrapped completely around aroller is obviated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an elongated metal strip having extensions at each end thereof for the purpose of securing it to the frame of the rollers in close proximity thereto and to provide flexible means, preferably rubber, located at least on the under side of said strip for the purposes stated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means on the metal strip to releasably hold the flexible member so that when it has become worn it may be removed and replaced by a new one.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will appear more fully as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and following description set forthin detail certain means for carrying out my invention, said means constituting, however, but a few of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a wringer machine showing the device of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the metallic strip and flexible means attached thereto showing one form of the invention.

The spe-.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical'section through the top roller and the guard'of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view showing a modified form of the invention.

take the form of prongs as in Figs. 2 and 3 or may be elongated ribs as shown in Fig. 4, or may be a single curved piece of rubber as shown in Fig. 5, or may be downward extensions at each longitudinal side having a smooth inner surface as shown in Fig. 6. It is also within the scope of my invention that the-flexible means may be either molded about the metal strip as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, or maybe secured thereto by clinching atthe longitudinalsides of the metal strip as shown in Figs.- 3 and5; Also, I do not wish to be limited to the specific forms shown, but it is conceivable that the form of flexible prongs shownin Figs. 2 and 3 maybe molded about the metal strip in the manner shown in Fig. 4, and the form having longitudinal ribs thereon may be secured to the metal strip in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows the conventional form of wringer machine which is provided with a frame I having rotatably mounted therein rollers 2 between which the clothes are adapted to be moved after washing. A spring arm 3 extends between the end members of the frame I having a screwthreaded bolt 4 in contact with the upper side for tensioning the upper roller against the lower one. The guard, generally indicated at 5 and which constitutes my invention, is adapted to be located as shown in Fig. 1 closely adjacent one of the rollers 2. In all forms of the invention a metallic strip is utilized which has an extension 6 at each end thereof adapted to be located within the end members of the frame I immediately below the spring arm 3 and secured to the device in this position.

Referring specifically to the form of the invention shown in Figs, 2 and 3, the metallic strip 5 is of an elongated form and is transversely arcuate. At each longitudinal edge it is curved downwardly and inwardly as at l to provide longitudinal channels. A strip or body of rubber 8 is provided having integral therewith a plurality of downwardly extending flexible prongs 9 which terminate either in contact with or closely adjacent the upper side'of the roller 2. It will be evident that when clothes pass between the two rollers 2 and they have a tendency to cling to the upper roller and move upwardly with it, as soon as they reach the flexible prongs 9 there will be a scraping action which will loosen the clothes from the roller and permit them to pass freely to the opposite side. One particular advantage in this form is the fact that the body 8 is releasably held between the channels and when the prongs become worn due to use, the body and prongs may be replaced with a new set.

In Fig. 4 the metallic strip I0 is also transversely arcuate but has omittedthe channels 1 at the longitudinal edges thereof. In this form the rubber body II is molded completelyaround the metallic strip and is held thereto in this manner. The under side of the rubber is provided with a plurality of elongated ribs l2 extending longitudinally thereof and which terminate closely adjacent the roller in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The effect of this form will be the same as when the prongs are used. While the ribs l2 in Fig. 4 have been shown to be of substantially square cross section, it is to be understood that the width of these ribs is immaterial since they may be made into narrow fins if the number of them is increased, with the same eifect.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a metal strip I3 which is located in a horizontal plane and which has its longitudinal edges formed into channels I4 within which channels are receivedthe longitudinal edges of a flexible piece of rubber l5 bent arcuately downwardly to contact one of the rollers 2. The effect of this specific form will be the same as when the other forms are used and either a plurality of the rubber strips l5 may.

be used or a single one may be used if preferred with substantially the same result.

In Fig. 6 an elongated strip of metal I5 is shown having molded completely thereabout a rubber body I! which is arcuate at its under side but, r

which has downwardly extending portions I8 at each longitudinal edge thereof adapted to contact one of the rollers 2.

In each form of the invention the result is substantially the same, and in each case the elongated metallic strip, whether transversely arcuate or in a horizontal plane, is provided with the extensions 6 at each end whereby the guard may be supported adjacent one of the rollers. Also, if desired, the downwardly extending flexible members of the body portion in any one case may comprise a single form shown or may include a combination of different forms, all'of these modifications being within the spirit of my invention.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be used instead of the one here described, change being made as regards the structures herein disclosed provided, however, that the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A guard for wringer machine rollers comprising, an elongated transversely arcuate strip of metal, extensions at each end of said strip secured to the frame of the rollers, and a transversely arcuate strip of material on the concave side of said metal strip having at its lower concave side downwardly extending flexible means terminating closely adjacent one of the wringer machine rollers.

2. A guard for wringer machine rollers comprising, an elongated strip of metal having its longitudinal edges turned inwardly at the under side thereof, a strip of flexible material-located on the under side thereof having its longitudinal edges received within said inwardly turned edges on the strip of metal, a plurality of flexible prongs extending downwardly from the under side of the flexible strip and terminating closely adjacent one of the rollers, said strip being laterally concave downwardly and means to support the guard on the frame of the rollers.

HENRY J. HEETDERKS. 

